When Simphiwe Selepe made his first-team debut for Orlando Pirates on this day a month ago against Golden Arrows, there wasn’t even a wild thought about being in the Bafana Bafana squad four weeks later.
Yet this is what has now happened for Selepe – who has been wearing jersey number 47 at Pirates.
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He has played 475 minutes over six appearances for Bucs, but that has already been enough for Hugo Broos to hand him a call-up.
Not often do players feature in less than 10 games and yet find themselves selected for the senior national team.
The most prominent to achieve this feat was Mbulelo ‘Old John’ Mabizela – an exceptional talent who also got his break while at Pirates.
Mabizela made his debut against Egypt in November 2001 after playing less than 10 matches for the Soweto giants.
After his Bafana break, he went on to play all four games at the 2002 AFCON finals.
A year later, Mabizela had won 14 caps and long become a regular in the senior national team before he then left for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.
For the 20-year-old Selepe, the past month has been what dreams are made of.
Brought in at half-time against Arrows to replace Makhehlene Makhaula on May 6, he has not looked back having started the next five since then.
Such has been his growth that he has played from start to finish in his last four appearances (and even scored) for Pirates, keeping it tidy in central midfield.
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Selepe has gone about his duties with the calmness of a veteran and could have the icing on the cake for the first month since his professional debut by earning his first cap for Bafana.
The senior national team plays a friendly against Tanzania at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday (19:30).
Photo: Philip Maeta/Gallo Images
